The First 48 Hours at Home
You are finally home. Away from the bright lights of the hospital, it might not be time to relax just yet!
While you are dealing with all the new emotions, are fatigued from labor and delivery and are most likely still sore, it is time to welcome family and friends who are anxious to see your new bundle of joy into your home. First, remember any emotions you are feeling are normal. Most new moms experience mixed emotions when they first bring their baby home from the hospital.
Don't be shy about setting guidelines about visitors. If you are exhausted and need some time, communicate that to potential visitors or have your partner limit the amount of people coming into your home or the length of time they stay. Ask anyone who is ill to wait until they are better before visiting.
It may also be a good idea to update your voicemail to give the details of your child's birth so you don't need to answer every call, call each person back to update them or ease any worries they may have had. Here is an example of a voicemail message that will do just that:
"Our newest family member has arrived. Her name is Rachel Courtney; she was born on August 8th and weighed 6 pounds, 7 ounces. Mom and baby are doing great. If you'd like us to call you back when it's convenient, please leave your name and number."
It is important to remember that most newborns cry and cry and cry. Young babies typically cry for 1 to 5 hours within a 24-hour period and you can't always calm them. The good news: crying usually decreases gradually after the first several weeks. If it gets to be too much, reach out to other moms for advice. It is amazing how much good a little pep talk from a friend or family member will help!
If you have any concerns about your child's health and whether or not you should call the doctor's office, do it, especially if you see something unexpected or different that concerns you. Doctors expect to receive calls from new parents with questions on many topics, from breastfeeding to their child's health. You should definitely call if you see any of these signs:
- temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher (in babies younger than 2 months)
- symptoms of dehydration (crying without tears, sunken eyes, a depression in the soft spot on baby's head, no wet diapers in 6 to 8 hours)
- a soft spot that bulges when your baby's quiet and upright
- a lethargic or difficult-to-arouse baby
- rapid or labored breathing (call 911 if your baby has breathing difficulty and begins turning bluish around the lips or mouth)
- forceful vomiting or an inability to keep fluids down
- bloody vomit or stool
- more than eight diarrhea stools in 8 hours
If your concern is urgent, call your doctor and take your child to the emergency room. With young infants, minor conditions can quickly become serious.